Method and apparatus for positioning heating elements

Abstract

An underlayment system is provided that includes a plurality of bosses that emanate form a common base member. The bosses and bases preferably include an opening therethrough that will allow for subsequent layers of adhesive to interact and bond to each other. The bosses are also spaced in such a way to help secure a wire snugly therebetween.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An underlayment for use between a veneer material and a foundation surface, the underlayment comprising:
 a base layer; 
 a series of individual supports extending upwardly from the base layer and being configured to create voids in a layer of bonding material used to adhere the veneer material to the underlayment, each of the individual supports including:
 at least one outer wall extending upwardly from the base layer and terminating at an upper lip; 
 an internal wall extending downwardly and inwardly from the upper lip to at least partially define a frustoconical cavity within each of the individual supports, the internal wall also defining the frustoconical cavity at least partially circumscribed by the at least one outer wall; wherein 
 
 an elevation of a bottom surface of a center of the frustoconical cavity is the same as an elevation of a top surface of the base layer immediately adjacent the at least one outer wall of each of the individual supports. 
 
     
     
       2. The underlayment of  claim 1 , wherein the outer wall extends substantially completely around a perimeter of each of the individual supports. 
     
     
       3. The underlayment of  claim 1 , wherein the internal wall defines the frustoconical cavity fully circumscribed by the outer wall. 
     
     
       4. The underlayment of  claim 3 , wherein the frustoconical cavity includes at least one wall that defines a plane that is angled from 40 degrees to 80 degrees from a center axis of the conic cavity. 
     
     
       5. The underlayment of  claim 3 , wherein the frustoconical cavity includes at least one wall that defines a plane that is angled from 50 degrees to 70 degrees from a center axis of the conic cavity. 
     
     
       6. The underlayment of  claim 1 , further comprising a liner material bonded to an undersurface of the base layer. 
     
     
       7. An underlayment for use between a veneer material and a foundation surface, the underlayment comprising:
 a base layer; 
 a series of individual supports extending upwardly from the base layer and being configured to create voids in a layer of bonding material used to adhere the veneer material to the underlayment, each of the individual supports including:
 at least one outer wall extending upwardly from the base layer and terminating at an upper lip; and 
 an internal wall extending downwardly and inwardly from the upper lip to at least partially define a polygonal cavity within each of the individual supports, the internal wall also defining the polygonal cavity at least partially circumscribed by the at least one outer wall; wherein 
 
 an elevation of a bottom surface of a center of the polygonal cavity is the same as an elevation of a top surface of the base layer immediately adjacent the at least one outer wall of each of the individual supports. 
 
     
     
       8. The underlayment of  claim 7 , wherein the outer wall extends substantially completely around a perimeter of each of the individual supports. 
     
     
       9. The underlayment of  claim 7 , wherein the internal wall defines the polygonal cavity fully circumscribed by the outer wall. 
     
     
       10. The underlayment of  claim 9 , wherein the polygonal cavity includes at least one wall that defines a plane that is angled from 40 degrees to 80 degrees from a center axis of the conic cavity. 
     
     
       11. The underlayment of  claim 9 , wherein the polygonal cavity includes at least one wall that defines a plane that is angled from 50 degrees to 70 degrees from a center axis of the conic cavity. 
     
     
       12. The underlayment of  claim 7 , further comprising a liner material bonded to an undersurface of the base layer.